Thursday, June 30, 2011

Tea!

Our first full day in Colorado Springs, we had a special plan in place already! We had planned to take the girls to tea at Glen Eyrie. This is a very special place to me for many reasons - I worked there, it was a place of spiritual growth and renewal (and still is) and I got married there. Plus, it is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been - seriously.

Here's a very brief history - Glen Eyrie was originally built by General William Jackson Palmer who also founded the city of Colorado Springs. He was truly ahead of his time with amazing fire protection systems, his own pasteurization system on the grounds, a bowling alley and heated sidewalks to keep the snow from freezing on. He built this home for his wife and daughters - and after he passed away, the daughters offered it to the city of Colorado Springs.

But, the city said no thanks. Too big, too expensive to maintain, etc... So, it changed hands a few times over the years. In the 1950's it was for sale and being pursued by Mr. Billy Graham for a ministry headquarters and conference center. He was friends with Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, and felt that this would be a better fit for him.

God provided the funds to purchase it through many donors and it is still being used to His glory today! Oh, the things God has protected this place from and how He has allowed it to continue.

One of the things they do is serve tea daily in the Castle and it was such a treat to go with my daughters (their first tea experience outside of homes!), my Mom and my sweet friend Susan.

Thank you, Mom, for such a wonderful treat and special memory! Oh, the food was pretty amazing too - I tasted brie for the first time and mmmmm!

The girls had a ball seeing hidden fire hoses, exploring servant stairs, ringing the bell and exclaiming over the amazingly beautiful and feminine bathroom!

10 comments:

Lovely, Monica! If you liked the brie, I have a great appetizer for you...

Spread a container of preserves of your choice over a wheel of brie. (we like raspberry, but you really can't go wrong!)

Top with chopped pecans or walnuts or even slivered almonds and bake in the oven at 350 until it starts to get melty. Serve with crackers of your choice. Very simple, yet elegant and yummy. I never have any of this left when I make it...

That looked like such a nice place I looked it up on Wikipedia. I would love to visit a place like that. It's funny, I just read a book published by NavPress and so I looked up the Navigators also. I'm so happy that you all were able to go there.

Oh, Monica; What memories this post evokes! How I love Glen Eyrie also...and memories of your storybook wedding, as well as my personal retreat there after Memee died. Then your Mom took me there for tea on my birthday 2 years ago.I love it all. You all looked so lovely and I know you had a wonderful time. I was thinking about you that day.